The Climate-Shield® Rain Screen System™ has earned high grades throughout the design and construction communities for its completeness as a high-performance wood rain screen system. In addition to multiple fastening options for different wall assemblies, Climate-Shield offers several outside corner options. From marine grade aluminum outside corners to high density hardwood corners, you can choose the best corner option for your rain screen design.
Climate-Shield Marine Grade Aluminum Outside Corner Option
Several years ago, Climate-Shield created a unique aluminum outside corner for its rain screen system. This corner system assembly consists of two parts; the base piece and a finish trim component. The base component attaches vertically to the wall assembly before the siding is installed. Then, after the siding installation has been completed, the trim piece taps into place for a finished look. The trim piece can be pre-finished in an array of colors to meet the project’s design needs. The trim piece also helps protect the exposed end grain of the siding, where exterior wood is most vulnerable to the elements.
Climate-Shield Vertical Wood Outside Corner Option
If a wood outside corner is the design intent, Climate-Shield Vertical Wood Rain Screen Outside Corners can be used to create a traditional look for wood siding designs. The lock-joint miter provides good stability and performance to the assembly. The vertical lines of the 
outside corner add visual interest to, and complements, the horizontal lines of the siding. The vertical wood outside corner also helps protect the exposed end grain of the siding boards. Most designers choose the same species for their corners as they do for the siding.
You are free to choose different widths and thicknesses of wood for these wood rain screen corners, depending on your design goals. For example, a narrower width of approximately 3-1/4” creates a subtler vertical line, while a wider piece of 5-1/4”, creates a more pronounced appearance. Many designers will also select a different thickness to accent the corner as well, e.g. 5/4 nominal thickness is often used with 1x nominal siding so the corner sits slightly ‘proud’ of the siding. Builders, too, can enhance the look of this component in the field by constructing plywood fastening flanges to create a different depth.
Climate-Shield vertical wood outside corner provides a traditional detail for rain screen designs
Horizontal Wood Outside Corner Options
We understand that many architects and design professional love the look of a horizontal outside corner with their wood rain screen designs. Due to the nature of wood, especially in an exterior environment, this outside corner design method requires more careful planning and expert installation.
The end grain of exterior wood is absolutely the most vulnerable part of a siding board. The exposed end grains of the siding, make designing a horizontal wood outside corner more challenging. This is the part of the board where ‘wicking” of moisture into the board length or rapid loss of moisture out of the board can occur. While any part of a wood siding board can move over time, the end grain is more prone to end-checking and natural wood movement, especially when a 45° miter is required.
If left to its own volition, a 45-degree end mitered exterior siding board has the tendency to behave erratically and will move somewhat over time. Some of this movement includes potential cupping, splitting, end checking, warping and more.
Quirk mitered outside wood rain screen corner, pre-drilled, screwed and plugged
Traditional methods of end mitering, pre-drilling, screwing and plugging are relatively effective at controlling much of the movement of the lively end grain of wood. However, there will still be a certain amount of movement, and eventually, some of the plugs are apt to pop out over time and prolonged exposure to the elements. This detail may require periodic maintenance as needed.
Climate-Shield Horizontal Wood Rain Screen Outside Corner
For horizontal outside corners, there is no better option than this assembly. After testing this joint for the past several years in actual field conditions, we found this dovetail miter with a spline performs exceptionally well. Although this pre-fabricated outside corner still has a 45° miter on the end grain of the siding, the dovetail miter and key hold the joint together remarkably well, protecting the exposed end grains, making this corner assembly much less vulnerable to movement.
When compared to the traditional wood outside corner detail described in the section above, we have found that any additional cost of the Climate-Shield Horizontal Wood Outside Corner is quickly offset by significant labor savings in the field. With its great looks, higher performance and lower labor cost, the Climate-Shield Horizontal Wood Outside Corner is an excellent design option to consider.
We hope you enjoyed this article. Please visit MataverdeDecking.com for additional information about wood rain screen design, outside corner options, wood siding options and lots more.
Related Posts
